Dishin' Up Diaspora

In this inspiring episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Chef Emme sits down with her very own literary agent, Stephanie Molina, for a candid conversation about the world of publishing, representation, and the power of storytelling through food and culture.

Stephanie is a vibrant force in the publishing industry and an advocate for underrepresented voices. As an Asian Latina of Japanese, Mexican, and Irish descent, she brings a unique pers...

In this episode of Dishing Up Diaspora, Chef Emme sits down with the incredible Angela Davis, better known as The Kitchenista—a chef, food blogger, cookbook author, and award-winning voice behind The Kitchenista Diaries. Since 2012, Angela has built a devoted following with more than 300 bold, soulful recipes, celebrated for blending creativity, culture, and honesty in the kitchen. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post,...

What does it take to break into some of the toughest kitchens in America, reinvent yourself from musician to chef, and build restaurants that challenge everything we think we know about food, culture, and work? 

In this episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Chef Emme sits down with Chef José Garzón — the Ecuadorian-born creative force behind Seattle favorites like Garzón Latinx Street Food, Ekeko Drinking Snacks, Chifa, Lola Supper Club,...

In this episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Chef Emme sits down with Skyler Mapes, co-founder of EXAU Olive Oil and one of the only Black women producers in the global olive oil industry. Named to Forbes 30 Under 30, featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things, and recognized by the Official Index of the World’s Best Olive Oils, Skyler has built a brand with a passionate cult following — and she’s here to share the journey.

From her multicultur...

What does it take to leave your home, your friends, and everything familiar—at just 10 years old—and start over in a country where you don’t speak the language? In this powerful episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Chef Emme sits down with the incomparable Bricia Lopez—James Beard Award–honored restaurateur, best-selling author, cultural ambassador of Oaxacan cuisine, and co-owner of the legendary Los Angeles restaurant Guelaguetza—to t...

In this episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Chef Emme sits down with acclaimed food journalist Tan Vinh, whose decades-long career at The Seattle Times has helped shape the way Seattle eats, drinks, and thinks about dining. From the rise of cultural cuisine in mainstream media to the ethics of restaurant criticism, Tan opens up about the complexities of his role, the backlash that sometimes follows a review, and what it really means to...

In this powerful episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, host Chef Emme sits down with the brilliant and bold Chef Lana Lagomarsini, a Bronx-born culinary force who’s redefining what it means to cook through the lens of the African diaspora. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Lana has worked in acclaimed kitchens like Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Gramercy Tavern, and Momofuku Ko—and went on to become a fan favorite on Netflix’s ...

In this dynamic episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, I sit down with the trailblazing Fariyal Abdullahi—James Beard Award nominated chef, creative, philanthropist, and one of the very few Black women at the helm of some of the most high-profile kitchens in the industry. 

Fariyal’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Ethiopia, she shares how her immigrant experience shaped her resilience and hunger for more. We talk about h...

In this powerful solo episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Chef Emme takes you on a deep and flavorful journey into the sacred world of Candomblé, the Afro-Brazilian religion where food is a divine offering—not just nourishment. This episode explores how Bahian cuisine, African spirituality, and ancestral resilience intersect in powerful, soul-stirring ways. 

Rooted in West African spiritual traditions and shaped by centuries of resista...

In this episode I sit down with Danielle and Gabrielle Davenport — the sister duo behind BEM Books & More, a groundbreaking Black-owned bookstore that celebrates the intersection of Black food, literature, and diaspora stories.

We dive deep into how their family’s food traditions and storytelling shaped the vision for BEM — a space dedicated to cookbooks by Black authors, memoirs, historical texts, and fiction that honor Black c...

In this episode of Dishin' Up Diaspora, I’m joined by Chef Gino Garcia for a deeply personal conversation about identity, immigration, and the stories food can tell. As a first-generation American, Gino grew up torn between two worlds—navigating the tension between assimilation into American culture and preserving his family's rich Mexican heritage.

We dive into his parents’ immigration story, the sacrifices they made, and...

Tapioca is trending. From boba tea shops to gluten-free recipes, it’s everywhere. But where did it really come from? In this solo episode, Chef Emme peels back the layers of a misunderstood ingredient and traces its true roots—not to Asia as many assume, but to the Indigenous Tupi people of Brazil. Before it was chewy pearls in your drink or a side dish on your plate, tapioca was sacred knowledge passed down by Brazil’s first peopl...

What does soul food look like when it’s born in Seattle? And how do you build a food empire rooted in love, community, and unapologetic creativity?

In this episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, I sit down with the visionary Chef Kristi Brown, the force behind Seattle’s award-winning restaurant Communion and the founder of the food empire That Brown Girl Cooks!

Chef Kristi shares her inspiring journey—from starting out in catering to becomi...

What does it mean to manifest the life you want? For Chef Jaine Mackievicz, it meant dreaming beyond the Amazon rainforest, falling in love with French cuisine from afar, and teaching herself English by reading cookbooks. Today, she’s a rising star in the culinary world, known for her infectious joy, fearless ambition, and deep passion for storytelling through food.

In this episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Jaine shares her extraordin...

 The restaurant industry is brutal, but what happens when the system feels like it’s set up against you? On this episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, we sit down with Sara Upshaw, owner of Ohsun Banchan & Bar, to talk about her unconventional journey into the food world and what it really takes to survive as a small restaurant owner. From navigating impossible regulations to carving out a space for the gluten-free community—despite ...

What does it mean to truly take control of your food, health, and community? In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and passionate Nyema Clark, a leader in urban farming, food sovereignty, and community empowerment. As the founder of Nurturing Roots and Avenue South, Nyema is dedicated to reshaping the way we think about food, access, and wellness—especially in Black and brown communities that have historically faced food a...

On this episode of Dishin' Up Diaspora, I sit down with the incredible Sabrina Tinsley, chef and co-owner of Osteria La Spiga, a Seattle institution that has been serving authentic Northern Italian cuisine for over 20 years—a remarkable feat in the ever-changing restaurant industry.

Sabrina’s journey is one of passion, persistence, and breaking barriers. She grew up in Alaska, where farm-to-table wasn’t just a trend—it was a wa...

In this episode of Dishin' Up Diaspora, I sit down with chef, restaurateur, and author Lisa Dupar for a thought-provoking conversation about Southern food traditions, cultural storytelling, and the complexities of authenticity. Raised in the South, Lisa grew up surrounded by the rich culinary heritage of the region. She reflects on how her family's experiences—and the people who shaped her understanding of food—have influ...

This episode features a heartfelt conversation with Bella Rangi, founder and owner of Sri Bella Foods, a company disrupting the $160 million CPG industry with authenticity and bold innovation. Bella shares her journey as a child immigrant raised in Canada and how her experiences shaped her approach to business and life.

In this episode, Bella discusses her guiding philosophy of staying true to herself and choosing partnerships that ...